Low flooding risk from high tides

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Record high tides due on Saturday are not expected to cause any flooding, the Environment Agency has said.

Weather forecasts for a "clear and calm" weekend mean that while the tides will be higher than average, they are not expected to breach flood defences.

The agency had earlier warned of the potential for flooding - but only if there had been bad weather and a storm surge at the same time as the tides.

It said the high tides could trigger "flood watches" which it would monitor.

"Flood watches" in place 15.50 BST Friday were:

<ul class="bulletList"><li>North Cornwall Coast</li><li>North Devon Coast from Hartland Point to Lynmouth</li><li>Porlock to Avonmouth</li><li>Saltburn-by-the-Sea to Whitby</li><li>Whitby to Filey</li><li>South Devon Coast at Torbay, Dawlish, Torcross, Beesands and Slapton</li></ul>

"Flood watch" was the lowest warning level, with the Environment Agency saying: "Flooding of low lying land and roads is expected. Be aware, be prepared, watch out!"

Spring tides are expected on 9, 10 and 11 September and 7, 8, 9, and 10 October. They may be the highest for the next 20 years in some areas.

"The tides will only be around four centimetres (1.4 inches) higher than normal for this time of year," the Environment Agency said.

"Flood defences are designed to take account of this and we are not currently expecting any problems."

It had predicted that towns and villages in north Norfolk, plus King's Lynn in west Norfolk, would be the most at risk from tidal flooding if there was bad weather.

Strong winds, extremely low pressure and a storm surge during the high tides could cause flooding.

Fuelled by strong winds, if a surge coincides with low pressure, it could raise the sea level around eastern England by more than 2m.